To educate others about the seriousness of the issue, prevent others from becoming a victim, pass legislation to prevent dating/domestic violence
Huge issue for young girls in relationships who are new to dating
What is the historical roots of this problem?
First studies occurred in the 1980's after violent attacks/deaths, data often underrepresented
What has been tried in the past?
Court decisions, anger management classes, presentations on dating violence, restraining orders, personal attempts at distancing/ending abusive relationships
What are the current approaches?
Education about dating violence and empowerment of women, providing hotlines and chats for those in need to anonymously get help
Each school district to develop a dating violence policy to address incidents of dating violence that occur at school and inform parents of such policy
Each school district to provide dating violence training to administrators, teachers, nurses and mental health staff at the middle and high school levels
Each school district to teach an age-appropriate dating violence curriculum through health education classes every year in grades 7 through 12
Dating violence awareness trainings for parents are strongly recommended.
Verification of compliance with the Rhode Island Department of Education on an annual basis through the annual school health report
1) "Boy Meets Girl, Boy Beats Girl"; Newsweek[1]
This article discusses specific instances of dating violence and the outcomes of the situation. It explains how prominent dating violence is although it is often under-reported; In the 1980's: "sociologist James Makepeace of Minnesota's College of St. Benedict found that 16.8 percent of college students had attacked or been attacked by partners; others estimate that the figure is twice as high". Furthermore, the article explains why so many girls do not stop and end abusive relationships. Not only is there pressure to date, but it is risky to unmask an abusive boyfriend. "If a girl tells her parents, she may lose the social freedom she's just winning. If she tells her friends, she risks being cut out of the loop. If she tells her teachers, she fears "ruining" a boy's reputation", in general girls fear his reaction and what threats may ensue. Additionally, experts claim the violence stem from the male's anger issues and those issues should be dealt with most prominently.
2) "Intervention Strategies for Treating Women in Violent Dating Relationships"; Family Relations[2]
This journal article claims that domestic/dating violence is a prominent as 4 out of 10 women at some point in their span of dating but then many continue to date these significant others (41-53%). The article explains clinical methods or interventions that are used to help women become empowered and leave abusive situations and then goes into detail about a study administered to women who had previously been victims of dating violence. One issue they found with women in abusive relationships was that they often would not seek help and had underlying yet related issues (substance abuse, depression, eating disorders). The steps recommended to help these women are: to help the client keep herself safe (by developing a safety plan, looking at how retaliatory violence can escalate violence, and by maintaining how serious violence is), help the client gain perspective (by educating the client about domestic violence, using solution/future-oriented presuppositional questions, identifying patterns in violence, identifying the "seeds of doubt", helping the client understand the realities of the relationship, be honest about your reactions to the abuse, and help the client think of other options), and to empower the client to develop appropriate boundaries (by encouraging the client to keep a journal, have the client go to therapy separate from their significant other, develop privacy, take a vacation away from boyfriend, help her develop new activities and reconnect with friends and family).
3) The Dating Violence Prevention Center[3]
This website is created to help educate young girls and their families about the realities and dangers of dating violence. They provide informational workshops and presentations at schools, businesses, and community centers to educate and empower women. The website claims 1 in 3 teens’ reports knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, kicked, slapped, or physically hurt by their dating partner and that the presence of violence in a teenager’s life dramatically increases her likelihood of engaging in other risky behaviors such as binge drinking, drug abuse, and suicide attempts. Furthermore, 81% of parents either believe that dating violence is not an issue or admit they don’t know if it’s an issue. The website includes a resource center for anyone who may need support, whether it be through acquiring information or having somebody readily available to chat.
4) "When Dating is Dangerous"; Time Magazine[4]
This article discusses the challenges parents face as their children begin dating because at that age, teenagers rarely disclose to parents what they are truly feeling or going through. A study done by the Harvard School of Public Health claimed that in a study of nearly 2000 high school girls, 1 out of 5 stated that had been a victim of dating violence (characterized by being hit, slapped, shoved or forced into sexual activity). Additionally the article argues how in this modern wave of 'girl power' some girls may believe that they are not vulnerable to dating violence and think they can handle more than they actually are able to. Parents should try and talk to their children about the dangers of dating violence and should look out for signs such as: depression, change in eating/sleeping habits, and increased violent outbreaks. Furthermore, the article discusses the importance of finding someone for the victims to talk with and to not accept the excuse 'boys will be boys' when it comes to dating violence.
5) Dating Violence; Brown University Health Education[5]
This webpage is an informational page about dating violence that describes different types of abusive relationship: emotional, economic, sexual, and physical and defines an abusive relationship by being any person in a relationship who commits physical assault, sexual assault, trespass, kidnapping, vandalism, stalking, violation of a protective order, or homicide. Additionally the website lists warning signs of abuse as past abuse, threats of violence or abuse, breaking objects, any force during an argument, jealousy, controlling behavior, quick involvement, unrealistic expectations, isolation, blames others for problems or feelings, hypersensitivity, cruelty to animals or children, "playful" use of force during sex, rigid sex roles, or a Jekyll-and-Hyde personality. Furthermore, it lists how loved ones can help those trapped in an abusive relationship and offers multiple resources that students and community members can utilize.
^ Michelle Ingrassia, “Boy Meets Girl, Boy Beats Girl | Newsweek Culture | Newsweek.com,” Newsweek, December 12, 2009, http://www.newsweek.com/id/125125.
^ Karen H. Rosen and Sandra M. Stith, “Intervention Strategies for Treating Women in Violent Dating Relationships,” Family Relations 42, no. 4 (October 1993): 427-433.
^ “The Dating Violence Prevention Center: Preventing Dating Violence Through Community Education,” http://datingviolence.org/.
What is the problem or issue?
Why is this issue important?
What is the historical roots of this problem?
What has been tried in the past?
What are the current approaches?
How does this problem/issue relate to RI schools?
1) "Boy Meets Girl, Boy Beats Girl"; Newsweek[1]
This article discusses specific instances of dating violence and the outcomes of the situation. It explains how prominent dating violence is although it is often under-reported; In the 1980's: "sociologist James Makepeace of Minnesota's College of St. Benedict found that 16.8 percent of college students had attacked or been attacked by partners; others estimate that the figure is twice as high". Furthermore, the article explains why so many girls do not stop and end abusive relationships. Not only is there pressure to date, but it is risky to unmask an abusive boyfriend. "If a girl tells her parents, she may lose the social freedom she's just winning. If she tells her friends, she risks being cut out of the loop. If she tells her teachers, she fears "ruining" a boy's reputation", in general girls fear his reaction and what threats may ensue. Additionally, experts claim the violence stem from the male's anger issues and those issues should be dealt with most prominently.
2) "Intervention Strategies for Treating Women in Violent Dating Relationships"; Family Relations[2]
This journal article claims that domestic/dating violence is a prominent as 4 out of 10 women at some point in their span of dating but then many continue to date these significant others (41-53%). The article explains clinical methods or interventions that are used to help women become empowered and leave abusive situations and then goes into detail about a study administered to women who had previously been victims of dating violence. One issue they found with women in abusive relationships was that they often would not seek help and had underlying yet related issues (substance abuse, depression, eating disorders). The steps recommended to help these women are: to help the client keep herself safe (by developing a safety plan, looking at how retaliatory violence can escalate violence, and by maintaining how serious violence is), help the client gain perspective (by educating the client about domestic violence, using solution/future-oriented presuppositional questions, identifying patterns in violence, identifying the "seeds of doubt", helping the client understand the realities of the relationship, be honest about your reactions to the abuse, and help the client think of other options), and to empower the client to develop appropriate boundaries (by encouraging the client to keep a journal, have the client go to therapy separate from their significant other, develop privacy, take a vacation away from boyfriend, help her develop new activities and reconnect with friends and family).
3) The Dating Violence Prevention Center[3]
This website is created to help educate young girls and their families about the realities and dangers of dating violence. They provide informational workshops and presentations at schools, businesses, and community centers to educate and empower women. The website claims 1 in 3 teens’ reports knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, kicked, slapped, or physically hurt by their dating partner and that the presence of violence in a teenager’s life dramatically increases her likelihood of engaging in other risky behaviors such as binge drinking, drug abuse, and suicide attempts. Furthermore, 81% of parents either believe that dating violence is not an issue or admit they don’t know if it’s an issue. The website includes a resource center for anyone who may need support, whether it be through acquiring information or having somebody readily available to chat.
4) "When Dating is Dangerous"; Time Magazine[4]
This article discusses the challenges parents face as their children begin dating because at that age, teenagers rarely disclose to parents what they are truly feeling or going through. A study done by the Harvard School of Public Health claimed that in a study of nearly 2000 high school girls, 1 out of 5 stated that had been a victim of dating violence (characterized by being hit, slapped, shoved or forced into sexual activity). Additionally the article argues how in this modern wave of 'girl power' some girls may believe that they are not vulnerable to dating violence and think they can handle more than they actually are able to. Parents should try and talk to their children about the dangers of dating violence and should look out for signs such as: depression, change in eating/sleeping habits, and increased violent outbreaks. Furthermore, the article discusses the importance of finding someone for the victims to talk with and to not accept the excuse 'boys will be boys' when it comes to dating violence.
5) Dating Violence; Brown University Health Education[5]
This webpage is an informational page about dating violence that describes different types of abusive relationship: emotional, economic, sexual, and physical and defines an abusive relationship by being any person in a relationship who commits physical assault, sexual assault, trespass, kidnapping, vandalism, stalking, violation of a protective order, or homicide. Additionally the website lists warning signs of abuse as past abuse, threats of violence or abuse, breaking objects, any force during an argument, jealousy, controlling behavior, quick involvement, unrealistic expectations, isolation, blames others for problems or feelings, hypersensitivity, cruelty to animals or children, "playful" use of force during sex, rigid sex roles, or a Jekyll-and-Hyde personality. Furthermore, it lists how loved ones can help those trapped in an abusive relationship and offers multiple resources that students and community members can utilize.